Petunia plant named ‘KLEPH19120’

ABSTRACT

A new Petunia plant particularly distinguished by having a violet flower color with a well-defined white border, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Petunia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPH19120’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEPH19120’. ‘KLEPH19120’ is a selection from across-pollination of the proprietary female Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0310’(unpatented) and the proprietary male Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0316’(unpatented).

In July of 2014, the proprietary female Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0310’ andthe proprietary male Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0316’ were cross pollinatedin Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plantswere grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2015 inLatina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH19120’. In May 2015, ‘KLEPH19120’ wasfirst vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissueculture in Latina, Italy. ‘KLEPH19120’ was found to reproduce true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation via tissue cultureand terminal tip cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Violet flower color with well-defined white border.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph,which shows a close-up of the flower of the plant. The plant is about 11weeks old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2019. The colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPH19120’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLatina, Italy. Data was collected on fourteen-week-old plants grownindoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in March 2020.Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common name.—Petunia.        -   Variety.—‘KLEPH19120’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0310’.        -   Male.—Proprietary Petunia line ‘PH-2014-0316’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Medium vigour plant with semi trailing            habit.        -   Height (from top of soil).—Up to 10.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—Up to 30.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative by terminal tip cuttings and tissue            culture.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 13 weeks            in winter under short day conditions, about 7 weeks in            spring.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,            white roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (basal).—About 5.0 cm.        -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the            tip).—About 18.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—Up to 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—About 0.4 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 144A.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Slightly alternate along the stem, opposite            under the inflorescence.        -   Length.—Up to 6.0 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower            surface: RHS 138A.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137D. Lower surface:            RHS 138B.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS            143C.        -   Petioles.—Length: Up to 0.6 cm. Diameter: Up to 0.5 cm.            Color: RHS 145B. Texture: Pubescent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Irregularly oblong.        -   Length.—Up to 4.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS N92A and RHS 2D at the tip.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously flowering            during spring and summertime.        -   Inflorescence type.—Sympodial, with monochasial growth.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 10            days.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 fused petals. Diameter            (flower face): Up to 6.5 cm. Depth (total length of flower):            Up to 7.0 cm. Throat/Funnel: Length: About 3.0 cm. Diameter            (at opening): About 1.0 cm. Texture: Inner surface: Smooth.            Outer surface: Pubescent. Color: Inner surface: RHS N92A.            Outer surface: RHS 79B with a vein RHS N92A. Petals: Color,            mature flower (fully opened): Upper surface: Closest to RHS            86A with an NN155C border. Lower surface: RHS N87A with an            NN155C border. Apex: Truncate. Base: Fused. Shape:            Salverform. Margin: Entire. Strength of waviness: Absent or            very weak. Degree of lobation: Medium.        -   Calyx arrangement.—5 sepals fused at the base.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: RHS N137B. Lower surface: RHS            137C. Length: Up to 1.8 cm. Width: Up to 0.7 cm. Shape:            Oblong/spatulate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower            surface: Pubescent.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: Up to 2.5 cm. Diameter:            About 0.2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Needle with oblong head.            Filament: Length: Up to 1.4 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Color:            RHS 157C. Anther: Shape: Oblong. Color: RHS 85A to RHS 85D.            Length: 0.25 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 91A.            Amount: Abundant.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2.7 cm. Stigma            color: RHS 139A. Style color: RHS 145A.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH19120’ is a distinct variety of Petunia. ‘KLEPH19120’ isdistinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLEPH19120’ ‘PH-2014-0310’ ‘PH-2014-0316’ Flower Violet with wellPurple with Magenta purple with color defined white white border white,less defined, border border

‘KLEPH19120’ is most similar to the commercial Petunia plant named‘KLEPH09189’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,916). Differences between the twovarieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial lineCharacteristic ‘KLEPH19120’ ‘KLEPH09189’ Flower color Violet with wellMagenta purple defined white border with white border

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named‘KLEPH19120’ as illustrated and described herein.